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November 24, 2006
Thanksgiving impressions.
It's easy to tell vegetarians from carnivores tonight. I peg the reedy ones wearing corduroys holding an animated discussion about anime as PETA supporters. The meat-eaters are literally slumped in their seats, penitently breathing through slack mouths, dull eyes glazing over courtesy of Lady T: sweet tryptophan.
Everyone's holding plastic containers with leftover vice (greasy) or virtue (fibrous), except for me and a strung-out guy in his fifties wearing a down vest and striped suspenders. He asks everyone but me if they'll buy his scuffed sunglasses and avoids my glance as he works his way past.
"You've already asked us," responds a girl behind me.
"I lost my wallet," he croaks.
"I'm so sorry," says the boy with her.
The gentleman puts his shades on and crosses his legs while the kids go back to what they were doing; singing holiday songs in two-part harmony.
Liz is at home, improving upon the flu I brought home last weekend. I can't help but feel guilty, given the exquisite care I received. I'm feeling a little better now, though washing dishes and taking out the compost leaves me sweaty and enfeebled.
So far, she's just inherited my sore throat and headache. I'm hoping the bug has mutated so she won't spend 2+ days bouncing between fever and chills. Two nights ago, I stood in front of our heater wearing a knit hat and a turtleneck as the BTUs flew. My teeth chattered like chiclets inside a Folgers can.
I closed my eyes and saw myself lashed to a tree in my underwear in a blizzard while Rumsfeld doused me with buckets of ice water. Despite my protests, Liz heaped a blanket over my shoulders and helped me to the couch like a febrile James Brown.
After the movie, I wandered from one locked exit to another with a group of film patrons inside the vast new downtown mall. We eventually found a fire exit and our freedom before exchanging Thanksgiving greetings.
I furled my scarf and pulled my hat lower as the wind sliced down Market St. I had eight minutes to make the last streetcar.
Posted by Your Protagonist at November 24, 2006 02:12 AM